---
title: "Breakdown of Negotiations in Jerusalem: US and Turkey vs. Israel Amid F-35 Deal"
description: "The US Defense Minister canceled a meeting with Netanyahu due to disagreements over the sale of F-35 fighters to Turkey. Israel fears that arming Ankara will disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East, but Trump insists on lifting sanctions for the sake of friendship. 🇺🇸🇹🇷🇮🇱✈️"
date: 2026-07-10T23:50:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/breakdown-of-negotiations-in-jerusalem-us-and-turkey-vs-israel-amid-f-35-deal
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Breakdown of Negotiations in Jerusalem: US and Turkey vs. Israel Amid F-35 Deal

![Two F-35 Lightning II fighters of the US Navy in flight, symbolizing the tension in negotiations between the US, Turkey, and Israel over the F-35 deal](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/11/otmena-vstrechi-nyu-yorka-i-izrailya-f-35-turcii/otmena-vstrechi-nyu-yorka-i-izrailya-f-35-turcii-1.webp)

An unexpected glitch has occurred in the diplomatic schedule of Washington and Jerusalem. US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth has canceled a planned meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The talks, which were scheduled to take place this week, have been derailed amid sharp disagreements over military aid to allies.

### Reason for the Conflict: F-35 Fighters

The cause of the diplomatic cooling is the US administration's plans to supply Turkey with modern fifth-generation F-35 fighters. The Pentagon chief was also supposed to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. The agenda was supposed to focus on Iran, but the trip schedule was changed and the meeting canceled.

Israeli officials are categorically opposed to arming Ankara with such advanced machines. Benjamin Netanyahu has already voiced his position to US President Donald Trump. In Jerusalem, they are convinced that transferring fighters will change the balance of power in the region, given that Turkey traditionally supports the Palestinians.

### Balance of Power in the Middle East

Israeli experts fear that arming Turkey will disrupt the strategic balance. As noted in Jerusalem: "The transfer of F-35s will destroy the balance of power in the Middle East, as Turkey has aggressive ambitions".

Ankara has long criticized the actions of the IDF in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Moreover, Turkey accuses Israel of trying to sabotage agreements with Iran. Israel sees these facts as confirmation that Ankara cannot be allowed to possess technologies that could be used against the Jewish state.

### Shift in US Policy

For a long time, Washington refused to sell F-35 fighters to Turkey. This decision was made after Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system. In response, the US imposed sanctions on Turkey's leading defense company.

However, the situation began to change. At a recent NATO summit in Ankara, Donald Trump hinted that restrictions on both aircraft deliveries and Turkey's defense sector would be lifted. This statement provoked an extremely negative reaction in Jerusalem.

According to the media, Trump's decision is dictated not only by strategic interests but also by specific actions taken by Turkey. At the request of the US President, Ankara did not intervene in the conflict in Iran on the side of Tehran. Moreover, Turkey sold Russian air defense systems to the UAE or Qatar. This move was very pleasing to Trump, who stated that "it is time to lift restrictions on Turkey," as the US "does not want to impose sanctions against friends".

The US Embassy in Israel has not officially commented on the situation regarding the cancellation of the visit, however, sources in Israeli circles confirm that the diplomatic incident is indeed linked to the issue of arms supplies.